Automatic coupling for air-brake systems.



' PATENTED MAR.17, 190a.

3-. J. MORGAN. AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS. APPLIOATIOI nun 111.16. 1001.

wi tn new BENJABIAN J. MORGAN, O1 BEVIElt, M1880 URI.

AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR AIR-BRAKE SYSTEMS.

To all whom it may concern:

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March. 16, 1907.

Patented March 17, 1908.

Serial No. 362,671.

3 in the form of annular flanges 5 forming Be it known that I, BENJAMAN J. ORGAN, 3

a citizen of the United States, residing at B0- i'ier, 1n the county of Macon and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful lm- )rovements in Automatic Couplings for Airl rake Systems, of which the followmg is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic couplers designed more connection with air rake systems whereby the train pipes on the cars are automatically coupled or uncoupledas the cars are connected or disconnected, thus relieving the brakemen of the difficult and sometimes dangerous operation of connecting train pipes to ether.

lhe invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction and operation of devices of this character so asto make them comparatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture and keep in repair, while they are composed of few parts and are highly eflicient and reliable in use.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an automatic coupling composed of a suitably' shaped head on one of the train pipes, and sprin -pressed members on the adjacent end of the other train pipe which is adapted to be automatically expanded by the entrance of the head and automatically contracted and engaged around the head to hold the latter in position.

With these objects in view and others, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of arts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illus- 'trates'one of the embodiments'of the inven tion, Fi ure 1 is a central longitudinal section of t e automatic air pipe coupling showing the parts in the act of connecting or disconnecting. Fig. 2'is a side elevation showin the parts coupled together.

imilar reference character'are employed "to designate similar parts throughout the views.

Referring to the drawing, 1 and 2 designate the adjacent ends of two air pipes or other conduits adapted to be coupled together. The pipe 2 is composed of two telescoping members 3 and 4 having abutments' articularly for use in seats for the opposite ends of a helical compression spring 6 encircling the section 4. By this means, the section 2 includes a cushioning device for absorbing the shocks incident to the pipes or sections and 2 being connected. The coupling designated generally by 7 comprises a head 8 formed on a sleeve 9 that is rigidly secured on the pipe 1 and a seat 10 on the pipe 2 that isprovided with hinged members 11 adapted to embrace the head and hold it in engagement with the seat. The head 8 is in the form of a double frustum of a cone and the seat 10 is frustoconical and provided with a collar 12 that encircles the section?) of the pipe 2 to which it is rigidly secured, The: embracing members 11 are formed to constitute a funnel composed of two sections divisible on an axial plane and the inner ends of the sections 13 flare outwardly at 14 to engage behind the head 8 when the latter is seated. The flaring portions l-fl are hinged at 15 to the member 10 and encircling the members 11 is a garter spring 16 whereby the two semi-funnel shaped sections 13 can swing outwardly as the sections of the coupling are pulled apart or assembled, as in the uncoupling or coupling of the cars on which the pipes l and 2 are mounted.

From the foregoing description,.taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such chan es may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:-

1. In an automatic coupler, the combination of a air of conduits, a head fixedl secured on t ieextrcmity of one of the con uits, a fixed seat on the other conduit sha ed to receive the head, a pair of members ringed to the seat at diametrically op osite points and arran ed to swing on paral el axes, said members eing in the form of frustums of a cone connected and flaring in opposite directions, and an endless spring surrounding the members for yieldingly holdingthe latter together. f 4

2. In an automatic coupler, thecornbination of a pair of conduits, a head on one of the conduits, a seat on the other,- outwardly movable means adapted to be engaged by the head as the conduits are coupled and un-= coupled and arranged to yieldingly hold the head against the seat, and an elastic means arranged in cooperative relation with the first-mentioned means and held in place by its elasticity.

3. In an automatic coupler, the combination of a head, a seat, hinged members connected With the seat and having oppositel extending flaring portions forming a mout for receiving the head and for holding the i head against the seat, and a device surrounding the hinged portions and held in placethereon by the oppositely flaring'portions.

A. In an automatic coupler, the combination of a pair of conduits, a head on one of the conduits, a seat on the other conduit, semi-funnel -shaped members movably con nected with the seat and arranged to be engaged by the head during the couplin operation and to holdthe head against the seat, and;an elastic annular member extending around the outside of the first-mentioned members to yieldingly hold them in position. In testimony whereof, I aflixniy signature in presence of two Witnesses.

BENJAMAN J. MORGAN.

\Yitnesses GEO. R. SMITH,

OHAs. EDMUNns. t,

1&1 

